Monday, February 2, 2015

Whose perspective is the scene at the end of To Kill A Mockingbird? Is it from Boo Radley's perspective?

The scene at the end of the book is Scout imagining her childhood events from Boo Radley’s perspective. 


Throughout the book, Scout grows up by learning empathy.  Her father teaches her that she will better understand people if she looks at things from their perspective.  This is part of being an adult.


“First of all,” he said, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of...

The scene at the end of the book is Scout imagining her childhood events from Boo Radley’s perspective. 


Throughout the book, Scout grows up by learning empathy.  Her father teaches her that she will better understand people if she looks at things from their perspective.  This is part of being an adult.



“First of all,” he said, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view …until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Ch. 3) 



As Scout matures, she begins to see Boo Radley as more than just the scary monster of neighborhood legend who eats animals raw and peeks in windows.  He is a lonely, reclusive neighbor who leaves them presents in a tree hollow and sneaks out of his house at night to put a blanket on her shoulders during a house fire.


When Boo Radley saves her life, Scout finally gets to meet him.  She has fantasized about this day, when she could see him as a flesh and blood person.  Her father reminds her to call him Arthur, and she politely walks him home.  Once she gets there, she stands on his porch and looks at the world from his point of view.  In doing so, she reflects on the events of her past summers from his perspective. 



Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough. (Ch. 31) 



This reflection shows how much Scout has matured.  She can walk in Boo’s shoes. She is old enough and has gained enough wisdom and empathy to look back and the events of her childhood from his point of view.  She knows what an important part she played in his life, just as he played a crucial role in hers.

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